It's not the first time changes are required, but this time it's because of the coronavirus pandemic. Architects are now working on documentation without all of the secondary commercial uses planned beside the new Cagliari Arena.

All of Italy is preparing to deal with the impact of the still-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the football market included. But Cagliari are showing no intention of putting their stadium project on hold, at least not any further than necessary.

The new 25,200-seat Cagliari Arena is still coming, but further alterations are now needed. As you can see in the renderings below, dating back to 2018, the venue was expected to come with a shopping/leisure centre attached. That plan was changed in 2019 in favour of a different secondary commercial hub, detached from the stadium itself.

Now it's time for the third iteration, in which there is no commercial part any more. The club has announced such intention a month ago and now the Sportium consortium is working on the final design plans, to be submitted to the administration.

Club chairman Tommaso Giulini argues the decision has been forced by collapse of the retail industry. A commercial centre is no longer viable and the move is said to support local owners rather than bring new store chains to Cagliari.

Giulini has publicly asked for the administration to proceed with the plans as soon as possible, especially that the stadium was approved already and the secondary part took longer to discuss. Already before the COVID-19 pandemic came to Italy, it was expected that groundbreaking won't take place until 2021. Delivery is expected in 2024. Until then the club will continue playing at Sardegna Arena, just next to the old stadium.